The heat is shifting into Australia’s north-east today, with the temperature peak still to come in Brisbane and Sydney.
Temperatures pushing into the high 30s and low 40s are forecast again in Queensland and New South Wales as low to severe heatwave conditions affect much of the country’s north.
However, conditions have eased in the south, Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.
“It’s all shifting east across the country in a big mass of hot, windy air,” she said.
“The heat is contracting into north-east New South Wales and southern Queensland, and that’s why we’re seeing the fire danger flaring across north-east NSW.”
The heat will peak in Sydney and Brisbane today and Friday. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)
She said there were still some severe conditions ahead for northern NSW and Queensland before a low-pressure trough brought milder weather over the weekend.
“It will take a couple of days for that milder weather to push up the New South Wales coast and into southern Queensland as well, so Sydney and Brisbane will actually see their peak-heat days occurring Thursday and Friday,” she said.
There is an extreme fire danger in north-western NSW, a high fire danger in the Upper Central West Plains, and total fire bans in both regions.
The fire danger is high for much of Queensland.
In Victoria’s north-west, the fire danger in the Mallee has been downgraded from extreme to high.
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Late yesterday, crews contained fires threatening Dirranbandi in Queensland’s south-west. Residents who were evacuated on Tuesday were allowed to return.
The fire had “flanked” the community to east and south and come within a kilometre of the town, Balonne Shire Mayor Samantha O’Toole said.
Although the fires are under control, there are still fears they could flare up today, she said.
The conditions this week were a “good reminder” to be ready for what summer will bring, Ms Bradbury said.
“This is going to be the first time it really comes onto people’s radar,” she said.
“It’s just good to know how to prepare for it, how to react to it and how to find the information you need from your local fire and emergency services about what practical actions you can take.”
